Marcella,

 

For continuations, we start with the initial quote for the first year, and build inflation into the MOU agreement.  We are careful to let the department know we can’t control costs and that the price will naturally increase over time.  Typically I use 6% per year as a reasonable estimate.  Our subject liaisons work with the department to negotiate this understanding upfront, and that way there are no surprises when the library gets the invoice and follows up per the agreement to request a transfer of funds.  We keep a copy of the executed MOU, and we ask the department to do the same.  I’ve found this works quite well. 

 

Angie

 

 

 

Dear Colleagues:

 

In the past we have had schools/departments transfer money on an annual basis to the library’s budget to purchase desired databases or other subscriptions.  The issue is that prices rise exponentially while the contribution remains stagnant or rises only slightly, leading to unproductive discussions between the library and the departments.  

 

We are considering requiring that departments keep their funds in their budgets and shoulder the cost increases internally.  We are willing to provide assistance in negotiating pricing and licensing and in providing off-campus access.  We also want to make it clear that we do not want to cooperate in providing databases where off-campus access is not available or is limited to password access only. 

 

We have had success in this kind of arrangement with a few databases purchased by our Business School, though these few are not particularly well-used.

 

Are there any libraries on the Listserv that do anything similar and would you be willing to share your protocols for such arrangements?   What are the pros and cons of such an arrangement?   

 

Thanks so much for any comments you might have.

 

Marcella Lesher

Professor/Periodicals Librarian

Blume Library

St. Mary’s University

One Camino Santa Maria

San Antonio, TX  78228

 

Phone:  210-431-2299 ext. 1322

 

 

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